Electromagneto-mechanical Behavior of Giant Magnetostrictive/Piezoelectric Laminates under Electric Fields for Self-Sensing Cantilever Actuators

Abstract

This work deals with the electromagneto-mechanical behavior of self-sensing giant magnetostrictive/piezoelectric laminated composites under electric fields both numerically and experimentally. The cantilever laminated composite is fabricated using thin magnetostrictive Terfenol-D and piezoelectric PZT layers. The magnetostriction of the laminated composite is first measured. Next, a nonlinear finite element analysis is performed to evaluate the second-order magnetoelastic constants in Terfenol-D layer bonded to PZT layer, using measured data. The tip deflection, internal stresses and induced magnetic field for the giant magnetostrictive/piezoelectric laminated composites under electric fields are then discussed in detail. Experimental results on the tip deflection and magnetic induction change due to electric fields, which verify the model, are also presented.